INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 9 January - 22 January 2018

The year kicks off with both disciplinary and criminal sanctions for match-fixing in football in Malta. UEFA has suspended six players, two of whom for life, and a football manager has been handed a suspended jail term for involvement in manipulating. Maltese authorities responded that they will update and strengthen their legal frameworks in the fight against match-fixing.

The Court of Arbitration in Sport upheld the ban FIFA imposed on referee Joseph Lamptey, further revealing that the disgraced referee has been involved in six fixed matches over the last years. In Austria, prosecutors are investigating a payment by FIFA to the head of the Austrian Football Federation. In India, players and club officials reported an approach to the integrity officer of the national federation and to the Asian Football Confederation. In addition, a Japanese kayaker has been banned from competition for eight years for spiking the drink of a rival so that he would fail a doping test. Finally, a Thai boxer was accused of match-fixing and was physically assaulted following a knockout.

In terms of sanctions, the International Cricket Council has suspended a former cricket official from Zimbabwe for his involvement in fixing international games. When it comes to good practices in cricket, Bangladesh announced that will set up special courts at its cricket stadiums to try and convict any punters caught gambling during upcoming international series. Gamblers caught during the tri-nation series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, starting 15 January 2018, would be hauled from the stands and tried on the spot by judges in temporary courtrooms.

Cooperation between stakeholders to prevent competition manipulation is essential, and the Victoria Police in Australia announced a new partnership to swiftly exchange information with ESSA, a group of mainly European sports betting operators. Similarly, the Asian Football Confederation and Sportradar renewed and strengthened their cooperation to protect the Integrity of Asian football. Moreover, FIFA and the Council of Europe established a strong partnership to better promote human rights in sport and are aiming to have an agreement ready for signature by the end of 2018.

Additionally, Council of Europe reports call for more reforms in international sport. At the upcoming winter session in Strasbourg, good governance in sport is among the key topics to be discussed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The Parliamentary Assembly will debate the outcome of the reports on 24 January 2018, and is expected to adopt final resolutions on Sports Governance and on Governance in Football.

Tuesday, 23 January 2018